Environmental Assessment Central Utility Plant, Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects, Public Works Center - Utilities, Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois

摘要

Naval Station, Great Lakes (NAVSTA Great Lakes) is located in Lake County, Illinois, in the northeastern portion of the state. NAVSTA Great Lakes is the only basic training location for the Navy. Its mission is to provide the fleet with well-trained, well-schooled sailors. The Central Utility Plant provides steam and electricity to NAVSTA Great Lakes. The purpose of the proposed action is to improve the efficiency and reliability of this plant, which would include installing electricity-producing equipment that would provide NAVSTA Great Lakes with a significant percentage of its electricity needs. Currently the boiler systems at NAVSTA Great Lakes produce steam and provide the majority of the facility's heating requirements. Excess steam is used to produce electricity; however, these operations produce only a small percentage of NAVSTA's electricity needs. The utility upgrades would reduce energy dependency on the local utility and allow NAVSTA to be more energy self- sufficient. The majority of demolition and construction work associated with this project will occur inside the Central Utility Plant or Building 11. Inside the building, three boilers will be permanently decommissioned. In lieu of these three boilers, there are three energy-producing alternatives: (1) the installation of two (2) X 5.0 MW combustion turbines, (2) the installation of one (1) X 10 MW combustion turbine, or (3) replacing the older boiler systems with more energy-efficient boiler systems. There will be some outside construction and nominal excavation associated with installing the combustion turbines. This environmental assessment reports on the potential effects of this action on the area's earth resources, air quality, noise level, vegetation, wildlife, endangered species, wetlands, water quality, the creation of hazardous materials and waste, the surrounding community's quality of life, public services, cultural resources, and the local economy. (5 tables, 4 figures, 58 refs.).